Published: Dec. 03, 2009
Words: 65,719 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781452300382

Short description

Inspired by a true story, "Pilate's Cross" follows John Pilate, his sardonic imaginary pal Simon and lovely new friend Kate as they investigate the cold case mystery of a murdered college president. In too deep to wash his hands of the mystery, Pilate risks his life to uncover the truth of what happened in 1963 and why it's just as deadly today. REVISED 2012 EDITION.

Extended description

In the early 1950s, a professor in tiny Peru, Nebraska strode into a college president's office and shot him dead, then killed himself. Though few remember this terrible event, it inspired J. Alexander Greenwood to write the novel "Pilate's Cross."

Today Greenwood is a public relations consultant in Kansas City, but in late 2003 he moved to Nebraska's Peru State College for a two-year stint as director of marketing and public relations. Nestled in the rural "Campus of a Thousand Oaks," he found the inspiration for a mystery story.

“The real core of this book is about the open secrets that can fester in a community until an outsider raises questions,” Greenwood said. (Read more) In the early 1950s, a professor in tiny Peru, Nebraska strode into a college president's office and shot him dead, then killed himself. Though few remember this terrible event, it inspired J. Alexander Greenwood to write the novel "Pilate's Cross."

Today Greenwood is a public relations consultant in Kansas City, but in late 2003 he moved to Nebraska's Peru State College for a two-year stint as director of marketing and public relations. Nestled in the rural "Campus of a Thousand Oaks," he found the inspiration for a mystery story.

“The real core of this book is about the open secrets that can fester in a community until an outsider raises questions,” Greenwood said.
Greenwood eventually gained access to police records, crime scene photos, witness affidavits and news coverage of the decades-old murders, but the resulting book is not a thinly veiled fictionalization of an historical event.

“The professor’s motive was, in the grand scheme of things, terribly petty,” Greenwood said. “'Pilate’s Cross' is inspired by the questions this terrible crime created; but as a work of fiction it's set in a different place and has a more complex motive for the murders."

"Nearly all aspects of the book, including the location, characters and most importantly the mystery are strictly products of my imagination. However, recent real-life events are chilling in their similarities."

The "Pilate's Cross" book cover by David A. Terrill was selected as one of three finalists in the Best Fiction Ebook Cover category of the 2011 Global Ebook Awards.

It was also nominated for a 2011 Global Ebook Award in the Best Mystery/Thriller category and in the Best Fiction Ebook Trailer category.

This is the REVISED 2012 EDITION. Includes 3 chapters of the sequel novel, "Pilate's Key."

"Pilate's Cross" has action, mystery, romance and adventure--all in one suspenseful read. Find out for yourself why washing your hands of murder isn't easy.
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Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages. For more information, see the Support FAQ.

Tags

thriller, mystery, suicide, assassination, thriller and suspense, nebraska, mystery novels, mystery thriller, imaginary friend

Available ebook reading formats

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Videos

Official Book Trailer
Official book trailer produced by T2 + Back Alley Films, a nationally recognized digital media agency that creates all forms of new media content. Their specialties include motion graphics design, experiential design, augmented reality and other forms of new media, as well as original films and documentaries, digital production and postproduction.

Reviews

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Review By: MStinsonR
Video Review of Pilate's Cross
For me, Pilate’s Cross was a total winner. When I first read it several months ago, I was along for the ride with John Pilate, the title character. I was as in the dark as much as he was. Greenwood kept me guessing until the very end. Full of humor and oh-so-quotable quips, it’s a no-brainer e-book purchase.

Review by: Karen on Jan. 27, 2012 :
John Pilate has had it rough, he’s on a one way ride to self destruction, until he moves to Cross as a replacement teacher. At Cross College, small Midwestern land-grant college, John hopes to redeem himself. He is intrigued when given information concerning a murder that took place in 1963 at the college, but he didn’t bank on what was to unfold.

The author, J. Alexander Greenwood, has done a great job of turning the underdog into a hero. The story is believable, the characters are life like, and the setting is like any almost forgotten town in backwoods America. The book is a good read, but it does need a little TLC in the editing department. There are quite a few typos, some formatting problems, and the writing in the beginning of the book is a little choppy. I almost put it down, but because it was actually a decent story I muddled through the beginning, and continued reading. Once I got to about the middle of the book things started to flow nicely and I was glad I convinced myself to stick with it.

Pilate’s Cross is a good read for those that like mysteries and intrigue. It would be a great read with a little tender loving care in the editing department. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for the sequel, Pilate’s Key, which takes John Pilate to the Florida Keys.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: James Wilcox on Aug. 16, 2011 :
Although I enjoyed J. Alexander Greenwood's novel Pilate's Cross, I have to admit that I do have one complaint: it was too short. Mr. Greenwood came up with and developed a nice story line, with interesting characters, while managing to squeeze in layers of suspense, action, and even a little romance. I really enjoyed that Mr. Greenwood made the book more than just a "who done it" mystery, with his connections to civil rights, segregation, and small town politics. The problem is, I wanted more. I wanted to spend more time with Pilate, Simon, Kate, Kara, and Scovill. Pilate's Cross could have been twice as long and still remained the enjoyable, fast paced story it is. Nice job!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: barb harris on June 20, 2011 :
Typically, I'm not one to pick up a mystery or action book, but the underlying "story within a story" (somewhat based on real-life events says the author) intrigued me. One afternoon, I took off work early to spend the afternoon in my easy chair reading Pilate's Cross. I was sucked in immediately. The writer gets your wrapped up in the deep, dark secrets of the town of Cross, and it's hard not to fall in love with the flawed yet oh-so-very charming John Pilate. Looking forward to many more stories by Mr. Greenwood.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Michelle Mangen on April 23, 2011 :
I purchased this "forever" ago and finally got around to reading it this week. Read the entire book in one evening.

An enjoyable, easy-to-read book. I enjoy crime novels, which was the primary reason I purchased this book. Having Simon's personality in the book added a nice "touch".

Overall I really enjoyed it!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Alex Canton-Dutari on March 29, 2011 :
I am a sucker for thrillers, and Pilates' Cross had me on edge right from the title, which had me thinking of a Christian plot. J. Alexander writes with the details of a landscaper. The will excitement at the casino by the road will always stick in my memory. And the plot, starting with the Kennedy assassination,and introducing a parallel was a wise move.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Linda Gosslin on March 19, 2011 :
A gripping suspense thriller that held my interest from the start. Well written, good characterization and a complex mystery covering decades all contribute to a really good read. I will read other books by this author.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Fred Goslin on March 10, 2011 : (no rating)
I haven't read it yet... When I get them they go to the bottom of my list and are read in the order that they are purchased...
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Sheryl Hunt on March 02, 2011 :
This was a great read. At first 'Simon' kinda bothered me as I thought 'Is Pilate nuts or what'? Once I got into the read I could not put it down. Great characters and mystery. I would definitely purchase another book by this author.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Eden Baylee on Jan. 26, 2011 :
Pilate's Cross has a bit of everything—action, romance and spine-chilling suspense. Mr. Greenwood has a very strong voice for mystery storytelling. His style is to tease and draw you in, and that’s exactly what happened when I read his book. Now I must wait patiently for his next one to be further thrilled by the adventures of John Pilate.

***Big 2 Thumbs Up***
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Patti Larsen on Jan. 25, 2011 :
I sat down to read Pilate's Cross today and couldn't stop until I reached the end. I'm not normally a mystery reader but I enjoyed it from start to finish. Great voices and strong storytelling, highly recommended! Looking forward to the next John Pilate's adventure.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Bonnie Turner on Jan. 25, 2011 :
I was asked to read this book by an independent source who did not actually recommend but solicited persons to read and review the book for the author and I absolutely enjoyed it and look forward to hopefully more of Mr. Pilate's adventures. A total page turner which held my interest from the first to the last page. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Harvey Hurtt on Jan. 16, 2011 :
Well, I have to be honest, Pilate's Cross was recommended to me by the author, so you can say I'm biased but I hope I'm not. In any case, I *was* apprehensive at first about reading it (I downloaded it to my Kindle when the ebook first came out) but tried to forget that my nephew wrote it, and so, after getting past the initial intrigue I just got to it. And, Pilate's Cross is an excellent book! It is a really great story not only well written but it flows so smoothly, transitions so well between twists and turns, you'll find yourself right in the midst of it all--identifying with some really interesting characters as you move along--and before you know it, the unfathomed denouement leaves you wondering where the time--because you couldn't put the book down, er, or put your Kindle down. Try it, you'll enjoy it!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Donna Lehman on Aug. 05, 2010 :
Forgot to click the ratings stars - it's a 5
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Donna Lehman on Aug. 05, 2010 : (no rating)
Thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner! Lots of surprise twists and a satisfyingly complex main character. Author Greenwood leads the reader down such an intriguing, winding path that you must keep reading to 'see what's around the corner'. Recommended to me by @ShellyKramer on Twitter, it was the perfect night entertainment. Sorry it's over and hope to see Pilate return.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: klou on Feb. 16, 2010 :
Great book! Didn't want to put it down and couldn't wait to get back to it! I am looking forward to the next story of John Pilate and friends.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Michelle Stinson Ross on Feb. 13, 2010 :
Excellent read! I felt like I was watching the story unfold from over John Pilate's shoulder. By the time both Pilate and I figured out that he'd dug himself into a hole he wasn't easily getting out of, I was hooked. I spent several late nights unable to stop turning pages. I highly recommend the book, and can't wait for the next one.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Claire Ferro on Jan. 01, 2010 :
This was a fun read! The story developed quickly and definitely kept my interest; I was eager to find out what would happen next. I could visualize the plot as it unfolded and enjoyed getting to know the characters. A suspenseful read plus a little romance. Look forward to more adventures with Pilate!
(reviewed the day of purchase)

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